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(v) Unilateral hearing loss of sudden or recent
onset within the previous 90 days.
(vi) Audiometric air-bone gap equal to or greater
than 15 decibels at 500 hertz (Hz), 1,000 Hz and
2,000 Hz.
(vii) Visible evidence of significant cerumen ac-
cumulation or a foreign body in the ear canal.
(viii) Pain or discomfort in the ear.
Special care should be exercised in selecting
and fitting a hearing instrument whose maxi-
mum sound pressure level exceeds 132 decibels
because there may be risk of impairing the re-
maining hearing of the hearing instrument user.
Important Notice for Prospective Hearing
Instrument Users
Good health practice requires that a person
with a hearing loss have a medical evaluation
by a licensed physician (preferably a physician
who specializes in diseases of the ear) before
purchasing a hearing instrument. Licensed phy-
sicians who specialize in diseases of the ear are
often referred to as otolaryngologists, otologists
or otorhinolaryngologists. The purpose of